Water soluble sulphonic acid of the unsaturated hydrocarbons of oils for use as alpha protein precipitator



through a solution containing them Patented Feb, 23, i932,

EUGENE STAEGEMANN, OF OAKNOGD, 015.10, ASSIGNOR, BY IiiEfiNEASSIGNITIEBTTES, TO

THE DAYTOL CQMPANY W'ATEB SOLUBLE SULPHGNIG ACID CF THE UNSATURAEEDI-IYDR-OGARBONS OF OIL S FOR USE AS A PRQTEIN PBEGECPETATQR No Drawing.

This invention relates to a new and useful nethod oi precipitatingproteins in a new and useful manner.

it is the principal object of my invention to precipitate proteins orimpurities partaking the nature of proteins, which are held in solution,suspension or in colloidal dispersion, in crude or mother liquors, andby precipitating these proteins in a simple and effective manner,materially reduce the cost of production or treatment of a number ofimportant commodities or products, substantially enumerated hereinafter.

It is known that these protein bodies are found in the crude or motherliquors of sugar cane juice, beet sugar liquor and in the eX- tractableliquors of all animal and vegetable substances. It is known thatferments, bacteria and other forms of living organisms are essentiallycomposed of proteins. It is known that proteins are enoowed with apositive charge of electricity in acid solution as can be demonstratedby their migration to the cathode when an electric current is passed andby other manifestations well known in the science of colloidalchemistry. It is also known that the untreated crude or mother liquorsobtained from sugar cane, beet sugar and other vegetable matter arenormally of acid reaction and that the products of ten mentation anddecay are acid in character. It is known that the waste products of thebody'are acid and that sewage and other eflluvial matter is also of acidreaction.

I have discovered that these proteins are precipitated by a certaincolloid, described particularly hereinafter, carrying a negativeelectric charge in acid solutions as is demsanitation, requiringprecipitation of pro- Application. filed Gctober 34, 1927. Fierial No.228,509.

tein matter from solution, thus resulting in a saving of materials,labor and time.

In the art of refining materials requiring the removal of protein matteror in the precipitation of ef'rluvial and bacteria in sewage, I firstprepare a negatively charged colloid; i.e. one which will migrate to theanode in a solution placed in an electric field. The

colloid I prefer to use for this work can be made in the followingmanner, viz: Take a quantity of an oil (asphalt base preferred) thatcontains a substantial amount of unsaturated compounds, add about anequal amount of sulphuric acid, heat the mixture gently to about 80degrees Q. with agitation or the mixture can be agitated in the coldallowing greater time for the reaction. After about an hour the productsor sulphonration are dumped into a volume of water of about equalcapacity and allowed to cool for several hours. A. thick layer, intermediate between an acid layer below and an oil layer above is formed. Ihethick layer, as made above, is dissolved in about an equal volume ofwater and allowed to stand for some time whereupon any uncombined oilseparates and a perfectly water soluble compound, of acid reaction andnegatively charged, results. This water soluble compound is darkblack-green in color. It is an exceedingly complex compound or mixtureof unknown constitution and is held in colloidal dispersion as isdemonstrated not only by the fact that it will migrate in an electricfield but also because it will not dialyze. It also exhibits othercharacteristics well known in colloid chemistry. I have dis covered thatthis colloid, as prepared above,

will react instantly with neutral or acid gela tine or albumin in thecold, and with a number of other proteins, either in the cold or whenthe mixture is heated, forming an insoluble precipitate of varyingdensity depending upon the concentrations. My hypothesis of thisreaction between the protein amount of my protein precipitator, as madeabove, determinated by experiment, to the neutral or acid solution, and,after agitation, to allow the precipitate to settle out in tanks or topass the solution through a suitable filter. The liquid recovered aftertreatment is substantially free from protein matter. Some proteins, suchas are found in the cane or beet sugar industry, can be more quicklyprecipitated by the addition of a small amount of gelatine or albumin tothe liquor before adding my protein precipitator.

Before my discovery and invention, protein separation involved a numberof steps, such as acid treatment, alkaline treatment, the application ofheat, treatment with charcoal and other st ps depending upon thecharacter of the protein to be removed. It is well known in the art ofrefining that these protein bodies are diiiicult to remove and thattheir removal constitutes an'important item W of expense which isreflected in the cost of the finished product. Furthermore, fermentableliquors require prompt treatment to prevent the ferments and other lowforms of life, from creating undesirable reactions which reduce thequality and yield of the finished product. Through the use of my discovery and invention, as set forth above, it is possible to effect aconsiderable saving in materials, labor and time by the easyprecipitation of these proteins, thus resulting in a lower cost of thefinished product. The low cost of producing my protein preeipitatorenables its use in the commercial application of all industriesrequiring the removal of these protein bodies as an essential step intheir processes. My invention also makes possible the economicaltreatment of sewage and other efiiuvial solutions, resulting in theprecipitation not only of the inanimate proteins, but also of thebacteria, which chemically are merely aggregates of protein.

I claim as my invention:

A protein precipitator for removing protein matter from acid solutionsmade by taking a quantity of oil having an asphalt base containing asubstantial amount of unsaturated hydrocarbons, adding an equal quantityof sulphuric acid, agitating the mixture, pouring the same thereafter ina volume of water of equal capacity and alcharge results.

In testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand this 28th day of July, A.D. 1927.

EUGENE STAEGEMANN.

